Merva. Shaman. /digi-pack/.

Christian mysticism, Buddhism, Tao, Shamanism, native religions – and that's not an exhaustive list, but it at least gives an idea of ​​the themes of lyrics from the new album by Merva. More precisely, not so much of ideas but rather of contours and allusions. There are really a lot of them – but one should not be scared of such a blend. First, syncretism has already become one of the most persistent signs of our time, almost infinitely enriching the art of describing inner horizons. It makes sense to join the process. Secondly, despite the relatively exotic terminology, these songs focus on such simple and complex, fundamental things in their inclusiveness: Life. Death. The path. The forest of ideas. In the album "Shaman", Merva weaves densely – and amplifies this with the corresponding sound range, which by no means inspires relaxation. It is worth listening attentively, listening into it – regardless of whether the words are understood, because the music here is also eloquent enough. It is unlikely that this is an album of answers, but it also requires creativity to properly formulate the problem. While everyone should look for answers him/herself.The release contains a 12-page booklet with lyrics of all the songs.

Presentation of the heroic past – that's already a passed phase. Among other things – because the modernity offers the material for that here and now, thus the lyrics may easily bring together bugs on the Internet and the taste of war...

With their second album, Pins reinforce the impression that the group does not agree to the role of a simple mirror. To see, think, understand – and seek. They may not always find – but do not stop. Eventually, perhaps, no answer is final – the more one gets to know, the more one has to cognize.

The fourth album by Skinhate – and the first one in the recent 10 years – is, as ever, true musical fury. An unprepared listener will be just carried away, a prepared one – comforted with the powerful hardcore mix and meaningful anger.

If one has a look at the song titles – one would think that the meeting with the music would be quite … predictable, probably. But this distance impression changes to some extent once you start listening. In fact, perhaps, the main surprise is how softly electronics and progressive rock are combined here.

This album leaves an interesting feeling – as if one has heard three in one. A sort of "arrivederci" to the previous album, completely different aesthetics. But it is only the first half (including by timing) of the disk. Next is "Black Church" – through which one may already recall that Stoned Jesus started with vintage rock...

...While the songs of the new album tell of the times of the Ukrainian revolutions, Makhno movement, these are songs, which illustrate the link with the revolution contemporary for us and its heroes, bridge the glorious past and the dignified future. It fills the metal and dark romanticism of Veremiy with the authentic, purely Ukrainian spirit.

..the debut mini-album by the Kyiv group "Kraamola". Despite the relatively small content – four songs plus a bonus – the work definitely manages to catch with its energy, a powerful message. And it's not just that the music is heavy – thus, by definition, it is tense, charged with energy.

"Anna" has released a truly thoughtful piece. The powerful sounding and the characteristic vocal – all of that is clear, this is familiar, but I'd like to separately mention two other aspects. First – the new lyrics of the group carry even more semantic meaning. And, second, this is, actually, construction of the compositions..

We wanted to introduce this album here for several reasons at once. First, it has an interesting general concept – as can be seen from its name already, the album is devoted to the matters that for many decades have been helping people to kill – both each other, and oneself. Secondly – these texts do touch with their merciless straightforwardness, frankness of evaluations, bitter irony.

"Kley.Mo" is the answer that Tol gave to itself to its own question. For about a year prior to release of this disc the group declared that it would be on vacations – and it was far not a sure fact that it would ever get back on the scene. But the period of silence has passed, and Tol has not only returned to performances, but has also presented fresh material.

Artistic tools of alternative music, expressive male vocal with a number of emotional tints, introduction into the body of the songs of singing in the authentic manner, extraordinarily appropriate sounding of folk winds – all of that creates a very saturated, literally electrified atmosphere. It is in this connection that it's nice to note that lyrics of the songs in no way yield to the music.

We heard records by Pins for the first time not that long ago – about a year has passed, and then the group already had significant popularity among fans of radical art. In fact, even then it was clear that the team's debut album would be able to offer something interesting, not quite ordinary. To our mind, that's exactly how it happened.

11 years have passed after release of the first album by this team. It seemed for some time that the group no longer existed. But they have won over time and have appeared with a new composition and new music, which was defined as sad aggressive metal. Some say that they have transformed doom metal, others – that SHEcrIES have abandoned it completely.

Emotional, very energetic presentation – quite hard, but also very melodious music with inventive findings – varied vocal. Plus – texts, in which not only rhyme and emotion dwell, but also a thought. Often ambiguous – and, by the way, not so angry as its sound realization.

..topics of songs by Opozicia cover an extensive range of themes. And, strictly speaking, Christian morality is the foundation, not a flag. That is why in the group's texts it is possible to hear a great number of poignant social issues – these guys are not afraid to admit that problems exist, they are not afraid to give them their true names.

There is in all that music some adult thing that lets one know – nothing occasional, toy-like happens here. Adult guys create adult songs and drink beer in the adult way (even if they do not drink it). Leather jeans should be somewhere at hand

It is not that Ukraine has few serious, heavy rock groups – they exist, and new ones constantly appear, and more and more actively. But far not each group manages to furnish their appearance on the large scene in such a high-quality, noted and convincing way as the group White has managed. However, maybe, it is logical...

...the first album is a convincing evidence of the fact that this group is capable of making experiments deeply and finely through mixing ethno, acid, trance, rock and fly-agaric and at the same time remembering the taste. Still, even the vocal singing deserves your attention, to say nothing about the rest of music...

...pressing music wave of the album can somehow cleans the brain and makes it virgin. That is a very strange example of the super gloomy optimism, his nervous smile destroys the promises emptiness. What it’s going to do with you, I wonder.

A new face appears on the sky of the Ukrainian music. A serious and resolute one. With thin but firm features. "Fakultet" has female lips and male system of muscles, has its steel softness in the look of the ageless eyes. The protest has no age – and it is, certainly, music of protest.